“Our stock opened ten points down this morning.”

“The hotels are empty because the guests do not want to be associated with a thief,” I added, looking Bennett directly in the eyes.

Bennett lunged across the table, his fingers clawing at the wood.

“I built this brand!” he shouted.

“You were nothing but a name on the letterhead, Evelyn!”

“You stole her name, Bennett,” Arthur said, his voice rising in anger.

“And you stole the company’s capital to fund your personal real estate failures.”

Arthur turned to the board secretary, a young man who sat with his laptop open.

“Let the record show a motion to immediately remove Bennett Whitlock from his position as Chief Executive Officer.”

“I second the motion,” a woman at the end of the table said immediately.

“All in favor,” Arthur said.

Every hand at the table went up, except for Bennett’s.

Even Celeste’s hand rose slowly, her manicured fingers pointing toward the ceiling.

Bennett stared at her, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.

“Celeste?” he whispered.

Celeste did not look at him; she carefully adjusted the collar of her cream silk blouse.